We had less luck, Rick on provisions. We spent an afternoon in Scituate enjoying their 'Heritage Days'. Unaware of the event, we were lucky to get the last mooring.
We walked around town and except for street food for the event, we didn't see a 'grocery store'. Is there a convenient grocery in Scituate?
In Scituate we have dinked in toward the end of the harbor and tied up at a very convenient float next to a restaurant where we had dined. This eliminates the long walk if you tie your dinghy at the SYC. The grocery was around 1-200 yds or so from the float down the street to the East, or left. There is also a nice hardware right across the street. We haven't called there in about 5 years so YMMV.
Curious about the lack of shore side groceries, I began to ask locals in Gloucester for the local grocery store: They (2-3 folks) told me no such thing within the downtown.
In Gloucester we have gone to two places for groceries. When anchoring or mooring in the town anchorage at the big fork we would dink over to the harbormaster's float to the West and walk to the left again and there were a couple of mom and pop markets a short walk. There is also a nice dog park right next to the harbormaster's office. We have also stayed at a marina/yacht club at the end of the East fork. The club is extremely dog friendly and there is a dog park again right next door. There is a supermarket (and, maybe more importantly, a liquor store) off to the East less than 1/2 mile from the club. Last time we shopped there we hijacked a grocery cart for the return at the suggestion of someone at the club! Again, YMMV as we haven't called there in about 5 years.
Then in beautiful Rockport (the lesser,...)
, we found the same case. A gent that had been there for decades told us the only thing close was the 7/11. Processed prepared food there, but no groceries, produce, etc.
Never called there.
In fact in Boothbay, a place where we regularly provisioned just off the docks years ago at a local small grocery, I found the space filled with a tourist shop. Like we found elsewhere, the 'local' grocery was now outside of the town center.
I remember the place. Right in the middle of downtown. Selection wasn't great but we often bought stuff there. Too bad. I seem to remember we rented a car once in Boothbay and there was a supermarket at the edge of town on the main road. Way too far to walk. But now in the day of Uber.......
The solution for us (like in Sandwich-16 minute walk in 94 degree heat with groceries?), was Uber.
This is just a minor inconvenience for the cruising sailor. I look at it as a resident of a seaside village. The trend, decades old, is clear.
Coastal towns and villages are becoming more seasonal and year round residents, more rare. When we do find local suppliers in our travels, we try to support them.